Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

Overview

Speech-Language Pathology Assistants has a national median salary of $48,430 per year, with +4.8% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Assist speech-language pathologists in the assessment and treatment of speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. Implement speech and language programs or activities as planned and directed by speech-language pathologists. Monitor the use of alternative communication devices and systems.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Support
• Achievement

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Document clients' progress toward meeting established treatment objectives.
• Implement treatment plans or protocols as directed by speech-language pathologists.
• Collect and compile data to document clients' performance or assess program quality.
• Perform support duties, such as preparing materials, keeping records, maintaining supplies, and scheduling activities.
• Assist speech-language pathologists in the remediation or development of speech and language skills.

Work Activities

• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Getting Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Thinking Creatively
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Detailed Work Activities

• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Speech-Language Pathology Assistants:

Video Resources